บท 14: Watching them Grow

Over the next couple months, Percy spent time with Zed at Marineford training and teaching the new recruits what it takes to be a marine and how to fight properly. He went over the methods of rokushiki and emphasized the fact that a good soldier needs to learn all of them. He knows that most of these people will master only one or two of them at most, but it is a good foundation to at know all of them.

He noticed that Zed was working Borsalino, Sakazuki, and Dragon the hardest because those three had the most potential. [Two of those would be future admirals and Dragon would grow to be the leader of the revolutionary army by the time the start of the series rolls around] Zed thought as he looked at those monsters.

Borsalino was constantly clashing with Zed because he believed that he should be developing his fruit while Zed wanted him to improve his body as well.

"Borsalino, if you improve your body and stamina, no one will be able to beat you in the future. You will be undefeatable. Take Sakazuki for example. He's improving both his powers and his body and he's getting to the point where most rear admirals are not his match right now."

"It won't matter sensei if no one can catch me though." Borsalino pointed out. Percy noted that he did have a point, his fruit did allow him to move quicker than probably anyone in the entire world.

"Oh really?" Zed said looking at Borsalino pointily. "Percy, capture the lad."

*sigh* Percy stretched out his hand, [how many times has this been?]

Ever since Zed discovered that Borsalino could not escape Percy, he's been using Percy as a deterrent against the recruit. He wanted to show the young man that there was always someone stronger and that only with a balance could someone be strong.

Borsalino was instantly attached to Percy's hand where he struggled to break free.

"H-hey vice admiral..." the ensign said as he dangled in Percy's grasp.

Percy nodded and placed him on the ground. "If you trained in rokushiki, then with your speed, you would be able to potentially escape me you know."

"I know I know you and sensei keep tell me that" the young recruit said as he walked away starting his training again.

Sakazuki on the other hand walked to Percy and asked him,

"Sir I want you to teach me how you are able to hit me without you using your abilities?"

"You mean haki? It's too soon for you, you don't have enough strength, if I teach you now, then it would be a waste of your potential. Sure you would be able to crush those in the first half of the Grand line, but you would die immediately in the New world."

Sakazuki looked at Percy and nodded. He understood where his teacher was coming from. After all, he only trained for a couple of months. His only strength was his fruit paired with an above average strength. That was enough for paradise, that's nothing in the New world.

"When you mastered all of the rokushiki and are able to use them in real world settings, then I will teach them to you. After all, if you want to reach your goals of advancing past the rear admiral rank, then you need haki."

"Yes sir" Sakazuki saluted and turned around and prepared to start training his martial arts again. He was comfortable with shigan and geppo because it was useful for him; but, he struggled with kami-e because he never saw a use for it. After all, he was a logia user, as the owner of the magma fruit, he was untouchable by those without haki or his opposite element.

[I need to train to further my ambitions] Sakazuki said as he started to lift more weights and begin his routine again. [This training camp is only just the beginning for me].

*********************************************************************************************************Three months later Percy was standing with his second in command Orange in Zed's office. Orange finally decided to eat the devil fruit which turned out to be the pain-pain fruit which can increase or decrease pain.

[She hasn't really figured out how to develop her powers yet but increasing pain to opponents was incredibly useful] Percy thought as they were waiting for Zed to give them their orders.

Zed was going through some paper work and sipping his coffee and Percy was staring out over Marineford. It was a beautiful day, there was not much going on. The world was basically forming as to be expected. Whitebeard, Kaido, Bigmom, and Shiki were forming their own factions in the New world. Percy wanted to fight them, but he knew that he was not prepared to fight those monsters. Not even Shiki.

[Luffy beat Shiki in the movie, but that's more plot armor than combat abilities] Percy thought to himself as he was trying to get stronger and prepare for his inevitable debut into the second half of the Grand line.

[Perhaps next year it'll be my time. I need conquers' haki or one of the advanced haki first though if I want to stay alive].

Zed put down his paper work and looked at his disciple.

"It's time to test our recruit's mettle. We're going to split them up and send them to different missions around paradise."

Percy nodded expecting this. Dragon, Borsalino, and Sakazuki were too strong to be left in Marineford. It was time to demonstrate the might of the new blood to the rest of the world.

"Your task is to escort Dragon and Borsalino. Julius will be escorting Sakazuki on another pirate raid."

"Alright" Percy said as he sat down in the chair in front of him. "Where are we headed and who is the target?"

"First of all, you are not to interfere with the capture of the pirates unless absolutely necessary." Zed said looking at Percy, "both of you."

"Understood" replied the vice admiral.

"Secondly, their names are the Magenta pirates and they have a bounty of 82 million belli. Their captain's name is Red finger and he ate the smelt-smelt fruit."

Percy looked at Orange confusingly, "ever heard of this fruit?"

"Nope!" Orange said as she shook her head. She was just as confused as Percy was.

Zed went on, "it allows the user to smelt anything around him whether that is metal or organic objects into a weapon. Could be quite deadly. Fortunately, it seems like Red finger either does not know how to use the fruit or hadn't had it for too long."

"I see. We'll head out as soon as our ship is prepped" Percy said as he stood up and turned bringing his cape billowing in the office.

"ZAZAZAZAZA, oh yea, I forgot to mention that you're also going to be evaluating them and reporting back to me. I know that Dragon and Borsalino is strong, but if they don't perform up to stuff, try to be somewhat lenient. After all, Dragon is Garp son. ZAZAZAZA it's your ass that's going to be beaten after all" Zed laughed as Percy closed the door behind him.

Percy walked away without a care in the world, he had no doubt that Dragon would crush the pirates; after all, he inherited Garp's genes.

"Let's go" Percy said as the two of them left for the docks where Borsalino, Dragon, and the other recruits were waiting for them to set sail for their first mission.